Duncan Lewis Solicitors > Birmingham, England > Firm Profile
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Offices
![Duncan Lewis Solicitors company logo](https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/05/1169.jpg?v=1653347820)
Ground Floor (Part), 158 Edmund House
BIRMINGHAM
B3 2HB
England
Duncan Lewis Solicitors > The Legal 500 Rankings
Employment > Immigration Tier 1
Duncan Lewis Solicitors fields a large team that has significant experience in immigration, asylum, human rights and judicial review claimant matters. It is co-led by Ahmed Aydeed and Darren Middleton who excel in advising on publicly funded immigration issues. The group has developed a number of specialisms such as representing vulnerable clients who are victims of torture or trafficking in asylum and human rights matters as well as on detained asylum cases. It is also recognised for its work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. In addition, the group is skilled at representing claimants in judicial review proceedings.Practice head(s):
Ahmed Aydeed; Darren Middleton
Testimonials
‘The unique features of this practice is their attention to detail and how thorough they are with clients cases. They go through every detail with a fine tooth comb before advising their clients, they ensure that the advice that is given is nothing but the best’.
‘They are extremely knowledgeable about the law and keep up to date with any new developments within the law. I feel other firms would have difficulty matching this level of service that Duncan Lewis Solicitors provide on a daily basis’.
‘Mr Darren Middleton has gone the extra mile ensuring every detail of my case has been looked at. His actions of professionalism and dedication towards my case have made me feel listened to, understood and respected’.
‘Very responsive team, excellent on asylum work‘.
‘Duncan Lewis team is very enthusiastic and helpful. A big thanks to Darren Middleton who worked really hard on my case. He is a responsible solicitor’.
‘Duncan Lewis Solicitors have a highly professional, experienced and dedicated team that supported me, assisted me and provided me with focused advice and representation‘.
‘Duncan Lewis Solicitors have provided me an excellent service in assisting me with my immigration legal matter. Mr Middleton handled my case with complete precision and professionalism whilst explaining the details and obstacles throughout the case’.
Key clients
KTT
EDC v SSHD
JB v SSHD
BVN
CBP
Work highlights
- Acting in a case that was important because as a result of the decision, the law now means that many recognised victims of trafficking seeking asylum in the UK will be granted discretionary leave to remain.
- Issued a judicial review against the Secretary of State for the Home Department, challenging its decision to access, use and continue to access EDC’s information, stored on the Salvation Army database.
- Advising on a matter whereby the High Court ruled that the government had unlawfully cut support during the pandemic for survivors of trafficking.
Employment > Immigration
With a niche specialism in immigration judicial review cases engaging human rights in relation to removal, unlawful detention, suitability of immigration accommodation, and civil liberties, Duncan Lewis Solicitors leads in many of the most high-profile challenges of government departments and decisions. Asylum, protection, deportation, and modern slavery are among the firm’s other strengths in this area, and Toufique Hossain is a leading figure in this work. The firm has a large and capable team, with James Packer, Ahmed Aydeed, Bahar Ata, Claire Ryan, and Rohena Wallace all noted for their expertise in this area. Tamana Aziz heads the firm’s business immigration practice, and is ‘a fountain of knowledge and experience’, with a practice which straddles individuals and businesses with particular experience in complex appeals, applications under EU law, and training in immigration issues. Aziz works alongside Vicash Ramkissoon who works for international businesses and HNW individuals.Practice head(s):
Tamana Aziz; Vicash Ramkissoon; Ahmed Aydeed; Angela Sandhal; Bahar Ata; Claire Ryan; Darren Middleton; Gergana Pentcheva; James Packer; Jenna McKinney; Nazia Khan; Pardeep Somel; Rohena Wallace; Satvir Sahota; Toufique Hossain; Vilash Gami
Testimonials
‘They go out of their way for each and every client.’
‘Their ability to identify the problem and its cause straight away means they will be able to act efficiently and in the client’s best interest. Duncan Lewis prioritise the client’s needs and will go above and beyond to assist, whether that be as formally instructed or on a pro bono basis.‘
‘Tamana Aziz leads a strong team of skilled and knowledgeable business immigration lawyers. They are well-liked by clients and work well as a team with counsel to provide an effective and affordable service.‘
‘Tamana Aziz is a fountain of knowledge and experience. She is fully engaged with her clients and their cases and provides a personal and high quality service.‘
‘One of the many things that impresses me about the team at Duncan Lewis is differing levels of input and oversight into every case. Every case is handled by a team of people that take responsibility rather than an individual case owner. There is always a senior member of the team involved with every aspect of the case. If the primary caseworker is not available, there is always someone who you can speak to and knows about the case. That is reassuring for clients and other professionals involved.‘
‘Tamana Aziz has always been responsive to our questions, and these responses have been thorough and considered. Tamana has always been supportive and consistently professional in our dealings with her. My partner has referred Tamana to a wide range of friends and associates in London. Tamana has a vast knowledge of immigration and as such is able to realistically provide the correct information.’
‘Vicash Ramkissoon and Tamana Aziz are experienced practitioners and supervisors, offering strong backup and quality assurance across the department’s work.’
‘Particular mention must go to Toufique Hossain.‘
Key clients
Honey Rose Products Ltd
Public and Commercial Services Union
Care 4 Calais
Detention Action
Women for Refugee Women
Hareth Brothers
Work highlights
- Challenged the SSHD’s ‘Rwanda policy’ to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, ultimately resulting in no individuals being removed to Rwanda.
- Challenged the Manston detention facility over unlawful detention of thousands of asylum seekers, with the Manston facility ultimately being closed.
Employment > Immigration Tier 1
With extensive knowledge in challenging human rights breaches in removal and unlawful detention cases, Duncan Lewis Solicitors frequently helms asylum, deportation and immigration mandates. Toufique Hossain often caters to asylum-seekers who have been victims of sexual abuse, torture, and trafficking. Rohena Wallace is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, including those being held under immigration powers and with mental health problems. All of the individuals that have been mentioned split their time between Harrow and London.Practice head(s):
Bahar Ata; Claire Ryan; Gergana Pentcheva; Nazia Khan; Pardeep Somel; Rohena Wallace; Satvir Sahota; Toufique Hossain; Vilash Gami
Other key lawyers:
Jeremy Bloom; Sophie Lucas; Hannah Baynes
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis as a team have impressed me with their professionalism, patience, and responsiveness to my needs. The practice has a diverse workforce and effective collaborations with experts from the legal sector as well as other sectors.’
‘What distinguishes the Duncan Lewis is their genuine care which is reflected by their commitment to learning about, understanding and addressing my concerns, even the very small details.’
‘Duncan Lewis are vital partners for us, taking on asylum and immigration cases for clients in detention, often these are clients who would be without good representation otherwise.’
‘This team is unique in its ability to bring important test cases against key parts of government immigration policy, for example: the Rwanda litigation; the pushbacks litigation; challenges to the modern slavery statutory guidance.’
‘A leading practice in all the big strategic litigation around immigration. They are now the team to beat. Totally top end – completely brilliant; strategic thinking and judgment, they work at speed and under pressure.’
‘Toufique Hossain is a tireless advocate for migrants’ rights. He has a unique eye for spotting strategic issues and a truly brilliant understanding of the sector.’
‘Toufique Hossain is a unique operator in the immigration field. He has put together an excellent team that has the capacity to identify issues of wider importance from Duncan Lewis’s routine work. Nobody in the sector can match his breadth of vision, team-building skills, or contacts.’
‘Toufique Hossain quietly manages everything and everyone, and his juniors speak unbelievably highly of him.’
Key clients
Public and Commercial Services Union, Care 4 Calais, Detention Action alongside six asylum seekers
HT, Detention Action & Public & Commercial Services Union
MG
QH
WRW v SSHD
Hareth Brothers
KA
Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais v SSHD
F5
SH
Work highlights
- Challenged the SSHD’s ‘Rwanda policy’ to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. This challenge ultimately resulted in no individuals being removed to Rwanda.
- Challenged the wrongful detention of thousands of asylum seekers in Kent were unlawfully detained.
Private client > Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 1
The ‘exceptional‘ practice at Duncan Lewis Solicitors dispenses advice on the full spectrum of family law matters, with a particular emphasis on international child abduction cases, special guardianship orders, and wardship issues. In Harrow, Adeeba Naseem has broad knowledge spanning surrogacy issues, adoption cases and financial proceedings, while Alia Lewis is particularly adept at acting for children in public law care cases. Dividing her time between Milton Keynes and Luton, Krina Parmar has extensive expertise in advising on forced marriage and female genital mutilation matters. Luton’s Emma Bilsborrow has a great deal of experience in handling high-net-worth divorces and cohabitation agreements, and in Milton Keynes, Shazia Rana often assists clients with obtaining non-molestation injunctions, and care and emergency protection orders.Practice head(s):
Adeeba Naseem; Alia Lewis; Ravi Mahey; Krina Parmar; Emma Bilsborrow; Shazia Rana
Other key lawyers:
Priyal Patel; Michelle Lubelle
Testimonials
‘A local firm with national reach. The team has excellent understanding of their clients’ needs and strong relations with local courts. It has excellent client service and care.’
‘Shazia Rana is a child law expert. Within public law, she has significant experience of complex cases with allegations of non-accidental injury. She is an excellent listener and offers a sympathetic ear to clients going through very difficult times. She is a strong team player, working together with counsel to ensure that her clients receive the best possible outcome, even in very difficult cases.’
‘The team is exceptional. I have recommended dozens of clients to this firm because of the attention to detail they have.’
‘I hold Krina Parmar in extremely high regard. Her manner puts you at ease. She always finds time for clients and other legal professionals. She is my go-to recommendation in family law in the UK, she never lets me or the clients down.’
‘They go the extra mile and have good legal knowledge.’
‘Adeeba Naseem is experienced in child abduction cases, and is very good at building relationships with her clients.’
Work highlights
- Represented a vulnerable mother in a complex international child abduction matter.
- Represented the mother in wardship proceedings as part of a complex international child abduction matter.
Real estate > Social housing Tier 1
Acting for both tenants and landlords in a range of social housing claims, cases of disrepair, and unlawful evictions, the Duncan Lewis Solicitors housing practice demonstrates ‘excellent knowledge of the law’. With extensive experience of representing clients in the Court of Appeal and High Court, property litigation department head Manjinder Kaur Atwal brings extensive expertise in complex judicial review matters and possession disputes to her role. Dianne Cowie handles injunction and committal proceedings, while Bernadette Chikwe specialises in all aspects of housing litigation. Daljit Singh deals with applications for eviction, and Vincent Davis focuses on homelessness reviews and appeals. Zuhal Saglam Bas is another key team member. All named practitioners are based in Harrow.Practice head(s):
Manjinder Kaur Atwal; Dianne Cowie; Bernadette Chikwe
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Manjinder Kaur Atwal continues to be a force for her clients. I remain impressed by her knowledge, tenacity and overall client management.’
‘Manjinder Kaur Atwal has always shown dedication, expertise and is very reliable.’
‘The team have excellent knowledge of the law and extensive experience of this area. They also assist their clients with a variety of practical matters including obtaining support from other agencies and this, along with their ability to deal with some of the most vulnerable people in society, sets them apart. They are incredibly approachable and provide clear, practical and sound advice.’
‘Dianne Cowie is determined to fight for her clients’ rights and uses her sound judgment and years of experience to obtain outstanding results. Her team are hard working and provide an excellent service to clients.’
‘Manjinder Kaur Atwal – strong leader and fierce fighter.’
‘We had complete confidence in the Duncan Lewis social housing management team, led by Manjnder Kaur Atwal. Their impressive, sustained coordination and quality support throughout the three and a half year long trial could not be faulted. We believed wholeheartedly in our team.’
Work highlights
- Acted for the defendant in a Court of Appeal case which has had an impact on the law concerning disrepair in England and Wales.
- Represented the claimant in an unlawful eviction matter which has been referred to the European Court of Human Rights.
- Acting for the defendant in possession order proceedings which were heard in the Court of Appeal and are currently seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Employment > Immigration Tier 1
The 'energetic, responsive and very well organised' team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors has developed a market-leading reputation representing clients in immigration and asylum claims, at both first instance and appellate levels. 'Level headed and energetic' team head Vinita Templeton goes 'above and beyond in order to come up with solutions for complex matters', often for very vulnerable clients, including those that are the victims of trafficking and/or torture. Templeton has scored numerous victories over the years in judicial review claims, frequently achieving success for clients where appeal rights had previously been exhausted. Consultant solicitor Vanessa Delgado also has significant experience in the field and regularly conducts advocacy at both First and Upper Tribunal levels.Practice head(s):
Vinita Templeton
Other key lawyers:
Vanessa Delgado
Testimonials
‘Those lawyers instructing me from Duncan Lewis always send comprehensive instructions and well prepared documentation showing a keen understanding of the relevant legal issues together with a natural empathy for the concerns of the client.’
‘They were great, energetic, responsive and very well organised. They use modern technology in their work and respond at all times and quickly.’
‘Vinita Templeton is always aware of any changing factual circumstance and addresses issues in a proactive and timely fashion, ensuring that appeal cases are as prepared as they can be before final hearing.’
‘Vinita Templeton is well educated and up to date with all new laws and changes.‘
‘Vinita Templeton is level headed, energetic and goes above and beyond in order to come up with solutions for complex matters.’
Work highlights
Private client > Family: Birmingham Tier 2
The 'extremely efficient' team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors specialises in representing clients facing emergency situations such as matters involving sexual harm, safeguarding children or domestic abuse. It is also experienced in advising on divorce and separation issues and is known for its work with clients with significant vulnerabilities ( such as mental health problems). The practice works on an interesting mix of culturally complex cases and has considerable strength in international child abduction cases. Krina Parmar and Rupinder Jagdev  are among the names to note at a senior level along with Jasbir Raindi and Ravi Kaur Mahey .
Practice head(s):
Krina Parmar; Rupinder Jagdev; Jasbir Raindi; Ravi Mahey
Other key lawyers:
Adam Bloodworth
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis combines efficiency with a personal service. They genuinely work as a team and I think clients will feel well looked after by professionals who really do have their best interests at heart‘.
‘Rupinder Jagdev is a class act. She is one of very few solicitors I know that read every bit of material and formulates a view on it when instructing counsel. She is exceptionally efficient and seems to get the best from everyone who works with her’.
‘Duncan Lewis is a very good firm, with some excellent practitioners. Ravi Mahey (the doyenne of everything related to forced marriage and FGM) ‘.
‘The professionalism within the whole practice. The caring manner the firm gives. The highest care and standard given at all times throughout every stage. Everything fully explained in every step and how little the client has to do as it’s taken care of‘.
‘Duncan Lewis has had a growing presence in Birmingham over the last 5 years. Its family public law team is strong with a number of very experienced and impressive solicitors. Duncan Lewis attracts good quality work which reflects its reputation’.
‘Rupinder Jagdev – was extremely well-informed in respect of the evidence, she had clearly undertaken a lot of work herself. Her management of the child client was exceptional and she was able to seamlessly manage the dynamic of having both a professional Guardian client and a competent child client’. ‘
‘As a team, Duncan Lewis has a stellar reputation. Each member of the team I have encountered has been well-prepared, organised and always fought diligently for their client. Adam Bloodworth is a brilliant lawyer. He prepares his cases to the highest standard’.
‘I have predominantly worked with Rupinder Jagdev who is an excellent Solicitor. She represents her clients with empathy, compassion and understanding, whilst providing meticulous and considered legal advice. This is my experience of the whole team at Duncan Lewis’.
Work highlights
- Represented the mother in private family law matters. The mother wished to end her marriage having been subject to domestic violence.
- Represented in the mother in high net-worth divorce matters. This case concerned an application for financial relief and the team successfully assisted the mother in reaching a £3m settlement.
Dispute resolution > Debt recovery Tier 2
Duncan Lewis Solicitors' team is praised by clients for being 'hard-working and really interested in getting the right result.' The department acts for both claimants and defendants, and is jointly led by Sobashni De Silva, a specialist in commercial debt recovery who is sought after by Middle Eastern clients in cross-border matters, and Anthony Okumah, a ‘highly effective and commercially and tactically savvy litigator.’ Associates Karolina Natkaniec and Thomas Clark are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Sobashni de Silva; Anthony Okumah
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has a diverse client base, and is adept at getting to the nub of their clients’ disputes.’
‘Sobashni De Silva is a star.’
‘Hard-working and really interested in getting the right result for their clients.’
‘Sobashni de Silva. She has a real understanding of her clients’ needs.’
‘Anthony Okumah is a highly effective and commercially and tactically savvy litigator. Karolina Natkaniec is very much a rising star in Duncan Lewis in this field.’
‘Duncan Lewis has been a life-saver. They were there for me when I felt truly helpless. They provided me with someone to talk to, which relieved a lot of emotional strain. I will be forever grateful.’
‘Thomas Clark is simply a star. He has gone above and beyond and provided excellent duty of care. Sobashni de Silva is a fantastic lawyer and partner.’
Key clients
SES Ltd
Byron Height Limited
Babel Green Limited
Rajan and Dev Developments Limited
New Health Supplies Limited
Salisbury Support 4 Autism Limited
Work highlights
- Engaged by a Libyan national to enforce a Libyan court judgment in the UK. The case involved a $2.2m debt from a breached partnership agreement with a foreign national living in the UK.
- Obtained $6.5 million judgement after being approached by SES Ltd to obtain a Worldwide Freezing Order against a former business associate, Mr. V. The dispute involved an outstanding debt in excess of £5m.
- Advised a Nigerian property investment company with UK properties, which had been induced into a short-term loan agreement with a UK lender for ��1.6 million at extortionate interest and penalties. The lender pursued recovery when the company couldn’t redeem the loan.
Real estate > Social housing: tenant Tier 2
Duncan Lewis Solicitors offers representation across the full range of social housing matters, and the team is co-led by Bernadette Chikwe, who specialises in housing litigation and landlord and tenant housing matters, alongside Manjinder Kaur Atwal and Dianne Cowie. The social housing team handles cases related to possession and homelessness, disrepair, succession, unlawful evictions, and neighbourhood disputes. Associate Zuhal Saglam Bas is taking a lead role on neighbourhood disputes and litigation cases. The practice has developed an expertise in handling Equality Act defence cases, and a public law specialism representing both landlords and tenants in disputes, appeals, and judicial reviews. Chikwe regularly appears at the Central London County Court, along with Cowie, who also has experience at the High Court and the Supreme Court. Daljit Singh also handles a range of both contentious and non-contentious matters, from homelessness appeals in the County Court to claims for judicial review. The team has experience working with vulnerable clients, such as those with mental health conditions, terminal illnesses, or learning difficulties, and receives referrals from community organisations, domestic violence units, prisons, and detention centres.Practice head(s):
Manjinder Kaur Atwal; Dianne Cowie; Bernadette Chikwe; David Head
Other key lawyers:
Zuhal Saglam Bas; Daljit Singh; Vincent Davis
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis has a dynamic social housing team with members from diverse backgrounds. It often represents migrants and other people whose first language is not English and go the extra mile for them.’
‘The structure allows good client care and casework using intelligent, committed paralegals in conjunction with expert solicitors. The firm is also willing to take on difficult cases and pursue new legal arguments to advance their client’s interests.’
‘I work regularly with several different solicitors and paralegals across Duncan Lewis’ social housing team and see a generally high standard.’
‘Instructions to counsel are clear and considered and they take a collaborative approach when instructing counsel to build a case and decide on the next steps.’
‘They stand out for commitment to client outcomes, seeking to find alternative solutions when difficulties arise with a case or clients present complex problems.’
‘Good knowledge and experience.’
‘Bernadette Chikwe is a personable and switched on instructing solicitor.’
‘The team has an excellent capacity, which is important given the constraints on legal aid. There also appears to be relatively good internal communication between paralegals, solicitors, and partners, which means cases can be handed over fairly seamlessly.’
Work highlights
- Acted for a client in a widely reported Court of Appeal case regarding damages for repairing covenant breaches subject to the Simmons v Castle [2012] 10% uplift.
- Acted for the claimant in Sharaky v Clearspring Ready Homes, an unlawful eviction matter transferred to the High Court.
- Acted for the defendant in a possession claim sought on Ground 17 of the Housing Act 1998.
Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 2
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is known for its 'hardworking, client focused' and diverse team, attracting praise for its 'collaborative attitude', which means that 'working with the team is a dream'. The key names are Rebecca Thomas, who handles both personal injury and clinical negligence cases, and Renu Daly, who focuses on clinical negligence while also having expertise in the area of abuse. Daly - who was previously head of legal services for a multi-site acute NHS Hospital Trust - 'brings a real energy and buzz to every case';Â other well-regarded members of the team, which operates from offices in Harrow and London, include the 'kind, considerate and extremely hardworking' Ifrah Ahmed.Practice head(s):
Rebecca Thomas; Renu Daly
Other key lawyers:
Nazir Mirza; Ifra Ahmed
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis have a vast level of diversity – I have been in contact with several of their team ranging from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, African, Caribbean, English and Indian. I was super impressed as this is quite unique. The beautiful thing is all their team are consistent in building good rapport and spend their time to get to know the client better.’
‘I can not find the right words to describe my son’s solicitor Renu Daly as words will not do justice to describe her qualities. Renu is the most honest, transparent, compassionate, kind, understanding and unique individual. My children absolutely love her to bits as she is excellent when it comes to children. Renu Daly has been the best thing that has happened to our son’s life.’
‘Ifrah Ahmed displayed expert knowledge in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology. She showed great patience and understanding regarding the nature of my injuries. She worked relentlessly to make sure I got the settlement that I deserved.’
‘Ifrah Ahmed – kind, considerate and extremely hard working but with a good sense of humour. Ifrah has will always place a client at ease even in the most difficult of cases.’
‘Renu Daly is an excellent clinical negligence lawyer.’
‘Renu Daly is greatly valued by all her clients, she brings a real energy and buzz to every case.’
Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 2
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is known for its 'hardworking, client focused' and diverse team, attracting praise for its 'collaborative attitude', which means that 'working with the team is a dream'. The key names are Rebecca Thomas, who handles both personal injury and clinical negligence cases, and Renu Daly, who focuses on clinical negligence while also having expertise in the area of abuse. Daly - who was previously head of legal services for a multi-site acute NHS Hospital Trust - 'brings a real energy and buzz to every case';Â other well-regarded members of the team, which operates from offices in Harrow and London, include the 'kind, considerate and extremely hardworking' Ifrah Ahmed.Practice head(s):
Rebecca Thomas; Renu Daly
Other key lawyers:
Nazir Mirza; Ifra Ahmed
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis have a vast level of diversity – I have been in contact with several of their team ranging from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, African, Caribbean, English and Indian. I was super impressed as this is quite unique. The beautiful thing is all their team are consistent in building good rapport and spend their time to get to know the client better.’
‘I can not find the right words to describe my son’s solicitor Renu Daly as words will not do justice to describe her qualities. Renu is the most honest, transparent, compassionate, kind, understanding and unique individual. My children absolutely love her to bits as she is excellent when it comes to children. Renu Daly has been the best thing that has happened to our son’s life.’
‘Ifrah Ahmed displayed expert knowledge in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology. She showed great patience and understanding regarding the nature of my injuries. She worked relentlessly to make sure I got the settlement that I deserved.’
‘Ifrah Ahmed – kind, considerate and extremely hard working but with a good sense of humour. Ifrah has will always place a client at ease even in the most difficult of cases.’
‘Renu Daly is an excellent clinical negligence lawyer.’
‘Renu Daly is greatly valued by all her clients, she brings a real energy and buzz to every case.’
Employment > Immigration Tier 3
Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general Tier 3
Duncan Lewis Solicitors‘ crime department, which has a network of offices across London, including in Hackney, City of London, and Croydon, is commended by clients for both their ‘highly regarded‘ fraud practice and ‘excellent‘ confiscation team. Hardeep Dhaliwal and Sunjay Versani lead the team, with the latter being promoted to director in March 2023. Other key team members include the ‘dedicated‘ Noam Almaz, who is particularly experienced in extradition cases, and associates Laurence Grant, Simon Connolly, Linda Barker, and Olivia Amy Rose.Practice head(s):
Hardeep Dhaliwal; Sunjay Versani
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Simon Connolly is one of the top experts in confiscation proceedings and puts in the extra time needed to succeed in these cases.’
‘Their confiscation team is well renowned and deals with some of the biggest money laundering cases around.’
‘Linda Barker – senior, brilliant with clients, professional, great to work for, committed to her work, excellent with clients. Olivia Rose is a future star, very professional, hardworking, and will do anything for clients that she can professionally do.’
‘I work regularly with Simon Connolly and Laurence Grant, both of whom are stand-out in their fields. Their knowledge of confiscation and the POCA regimes is second-to-none. They are very personable and collaborative with Counsel.’
‘Noam Almaz is excellent; he is really clever, knows extradition law and procedure inside out and works terrifically hard. He and I just worked on a Canadian request which is the most complicated case I’ve ever dealt with, and he absolutely nailed the arguments.’
‘Although Duncan Lewis are a large firm, they have not watered-down the quality of the service that they offer. They read and prepare their cases accurately and intuitively, so can provide realistic and appropriate advice. Their fraud department is also highly regarded within the industry generally.’
‘Laurence Grant provides expertise in many areas, including fraud and confiscation matters. He has been carving a niche in both of these areas for many years and so is recognised as an authority in these areas.’
‘Noam Almaz is a dedicated, unstoppable advocate for his clients. He will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for his clients for whom he cares passionately. He will undertake field research to get to the bottom of any legal issue and engages fully with counsel to ensure the case is prepped as well as it can be. He is an outstanding individual in a very difficult field.’
Private client > Court of protection Tier 3
Gillian Alysia de Freitas and Angela Sandhal co-lead the department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, which frequently represents vulnerable clients and family members in disputes pertaining to mental capacity and best interest welfare decisions. These cases mostly relate to residence, contact, care and medical treatment. The practice is now also regularly receiving instructions to advise trust corporations and other firms of solicitors on health and social care matters.Practice head(s):
Gillian Alysia de Freitas; Angela Sandhal
Other key lawyers:
Fernanda Stefani
Testimonials
‘Well established Court of Protection team that balances sensible practical advice with a thorough understanding of the jurisdiction’.
‘Angela Sandhal is able to be robust in her approach whilst being sensitive to client needs’.
‘The team is incredibly professional, friendly, reliable and always willing to offer fantastic advice on individual cases. I have found that Duncan Lewis have been incredibly responsive’.Â
‘The communication styles, compassion and understanding of an individual’s needs, views and wishes have always been their priority’.
‘Duncan Lewis have a strong team of Court of Protection lawyers who understand the subject well, including the interaction with public law, which is a distinct advantage in cases that also require judicial review’.
‘Their cases are always well prepared, and it is evident that care is taken to obtain the views of the protected party, even by visiting their home if necessary’.
‘The team is small and therefore knows each other’s strengths and expertise. When I am instructed by this firm I know that there is not just one solicitor dealing with a matter, the whole team assists’.
‘Angela Sandhal is a safe pair of hands for Court of Protection matters involving particularly vulnerable individuals’.
Work highlights
- Represented RC in his s21A and s16 challenge against his placement in a care home.
- Represented MM in his s21A challenge against his placement in a care home.
- Represented GB in his s21A challenge against his placement in a care home. Ultimately, her client’s DOLS was rescinded by the court and GB was able to decide where he should live.
Public sector > Administrative and public law Tier 3
Duncan Lewis Solicitors has established a well respected judicial review claimant practice, representing a spectrum of vulnerable claimants in cases relating to human rights, prison, mental capacity and social welfare issues. The team has recently been representing clients in the lead challenge to the SSHD’s Rwanda policy, with Ahmed Aydeed being a key contact on that front. James Packer is director of the public law department and litigates across a broad range of areas, while immigration specialist Toufique Hossain regularly represents vulnerable individuals, including asylum seekers and victims of torture. Rohena Wallace is also highly recommended.Other key lawyers:
Ahmed Aydeed; Bahar Ata; Claire Ryan; Gergana Pentcheva; James Packer; Nazia Khan; Rohena Wallace; Toufique Hossain; Vilash Gami
Testimonials
‘DL’s team are representing many of the most vulnerable migrants, often in time sensitive and significant public law actions. They have great tactical awareness and go the extra mile to get results.’
‘Duncan Lewis is a behemoth in the legal aid sector, with particular specialism in immigration and migrants’ rights cases.’
‘It has a large, dynamic team who work tirelessly on the most challenging cases.’
‘DL operates at the cutting edge of claimant public law work with boldness and courage other firms lack. They are willing to take on even the most challenging cases, ensuring representation for many vulnerable clients who would otherwise not have any.’
‘Toufique Hossain is a bold strategic litigator who runs cutting-edge and important legal challenges. He makes the most of his cases and is imaginative and skilful in challenging government action.’
‘Particular mention for Toufique Hossain; he is excellent in this area.’
Key clients
The Public and Commercial Services Union, Care 4 Calais, Detention Action alongside six asylum seekers (AAA & Ors)
HT, Detention Action & Public & Commercial Services Union
10 asylum seeking clients and their families accommodated in Staindrop Lodge Hotel
Helen Amare Teshale (and others)
Women for Refugee Women (‘WRW’) and SPM
HVN (victim of trafficking)
KA and 6 Others
Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais v SSHD
PB (Asylum Claimant)
JB v SSHD
EDC V SSHD
CBP v SSHD
VV v SSHD (Windrush Compensation)
Work highlights
- Acting on the lead challenge to the SSHD’s Rwanda policy to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda.
- Acting on the Manston challenge over wrongful detention in Kent.
Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights Tier 3
The civil liberties and human rights group at Duncan Lewis Solicitors is a ‘behemoth in the legal aid sector’, and is noted as having a ‘particular specialism in migrants’ rights cases.’ Toufique Hossain is a key contact in this regard, with his practice remaining committed to fighting for the right to liberty and refuge from persecution. James Packer is another influential member of the team, regularly involved in test cases concerning access to the courts, unlawful detention and forced removals from the UK.Other key lawyers:
Ahmed Aydeed; Angela Sandhal; Bahar Ata; Claire Ryan; Gergana Pentcheva; James Packer; Jenna McKinney; Nazia Khan; Rohena Wallace; Satvir Sahota; Toufique Hossain; Vilash Gami; Graeme Rothwell
Testimonials
‘The team has an unrelenting commitment to their clients’ best interests and will always go the extra mile.’
‘Graeme Rothwell is without peers in the sector. The best solicitor I have worked with on civil liberties and human rights. He knows the law and the type of evidence necessary to win cases. Clients trust him with their lives, let alone their cases, and that is because he is always fully committed to them.’
‘Duncan Lewis is a behemoth in the legal aid sector, with particular specialism in immigration and migrants’ rights cases. It has a large, dynamic team who work tirelessly on the most challenging cases.’
‘DL operates at the cutting edge of claimant public law work with a boldness and courage which other firms lack. They are willing to take on even the most challenging cases, ensuring representation for many vulnerable clients who would otherwise not have any.’
‘Toufique Hossain – unrivalled market knowledge.’
‘Bahar Ata – really excellent, experienced lawyer with a good strategic eye.’
Key clients
The Public and Commercial Services Union, Care 4 Calais, Detention Action alongside six asylum seekers (AAA & Ors)
HT, Detention Action & Public & Commercial Services Union
Women for Refugee Women (‘WRW’) and SPM
Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais v SSHD
Brook House Inquiry
Sonya Dalton
Malcolm Emery
Work highlights
- Acting in the lead challenge to the SSHD’s Rwanda policy to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda.
- Acting on the Manston challenge over wrongful detention in Kent.
Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud Tier 3
‘Stand-out partner’ Hardeep Dhaliwal leads Duncan Lewis Solicitors‘ crime department, with offices across Harrow, Luton and Milton Keynes. The team is experienced in handling serious and complex matters, such as gang-related crime, murder and high-value fraud charges, and is especially recommended for its proceeds of crime and fraud unit, which specialises in high-value confiscation proceedings. Further key contacts are ‘go-to lawyer for financial crime’ Simon Connolly, Linda Barker and Olivia Amy Rose. Rubin Italia departed to Stokoe Partnership Solicitors in August 2022, and Nicholas De Freitas joined the Crown Prosecution Service in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Hardeep Dhaliwal
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis is a diverse, thriving practice that is in the forefront of criminal litigation compared with other firms of its kind. The assistance provided is very much geared to the unique circumstances and challenges that an individual faces.’
‘The firm is proactive in case management and has a solution-orientated approach to litigation. The stand-out partner, in my experience, is Hardeep Dhaliwal.’
‘Excellent team of motivated criminal specialists. Extensive range of work, from the most minor criminal offences to murder and fraud.’
‘Olivia Rose – highly motivated, client friendly. Works very hard, brilliant with clients, goes the extra yard to serve the client’s interests.’
‘Linda Barker and her team of criminal litigators provide bespoke client care to vulnerable clients, including foreign defendants and those with language barriers who require additional support as part of their legal representation.’
‘Dedication and hard work in the field of confiscation.’
‘Simon Connelly – outstandingly clever and hardworking.’
‘Simon Connolly is a go-to lawyer for financial crime, and proceeds of crime matters.’
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3
The Harrow-based team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors serves a diverse client base consisting of government authorities and financial institutions. The practice exhibits expertise in the defence of claims by rogue lenders, with particular emphasis on cross-border claims. The ‘outstanding’ Sobashni De Silva jointly leads the team alongside ‘class act‘ Anthony Okumah; De Silva assists a number of corporates, charities and high-net-worth individuals with civil fraud, defamation, and contractual disputes, while Okumah has extensive knowledge of professional negligence claims against solicitors and barristers.Practice head(s):
Sobashni De Silva; Anthony Okumah
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Clark; Kulwant Sokhal; Karolina Natkaniec
Testimonials
‘Thomas Clark is a star. He is honest and straightforward, with excellent communication skills.’
‘Sobashni De Silva is an outstanding professional. She oversees her team with great skill. They appear to have the utmost respect for her and great faith in her abilities.’
‘The team has a diverse client base which it serves very well – it is particularly good at dealing with individuals or small businesses who require assistance in identifying and navigating unfamiliar legal territory.’
‘Sobashni De Silva remains a stand out partner. Her collaborative approach is very much appreciated.’
‘Sobashni De Silva is a shrewd adviser who understands end goals, and keeps markers in a case.’
‘Kulwant Sokhal remains on top of a case and ensures momentum is not lost. Deals with sensitive and vulnerable clients well.’
‘Anthony Okumah is a class act. Karolina Natkaniec is very thorough and one to watch.’
Key clients
SES Ltd
Byron Height Limited
Babel Green Limited
Rajan and Dev Developments Limited
New Health Supplies Limited
Salisbury Support 4 Autism Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for SES Ltd in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against a former business associate. The dispute involved an outstanding debt in excess of £5m.
- Represented a Libyan national to enforce a Libyan court judgment in the UK.
Dispute resolution > Debt recovery Tier 3
Working for claimants and defendants, Duncan Lewis Solicitors' debt recovery team in Harrow has a notable specialism in advising Middle Eastern clients on claims and disputes. Exemplifying this in particular is co-head and ‘outstanding professional‘ Sobashni De Silva, who is sought out by many international clients and has key expertise in cross-border jurisdiction claims. Described by clients as ‘simply a class act’, fellow co-head Anthony Okumah is a key contact for a range of litigation matters.Practice head(s):
Sobashni De Silva; Anthony Okumah
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Clark
Testimonials
‘They have been very helpful in making us understand the cost involved in direct debt recovery, and the difficulties it can bring.’
‘The team is brilliant. I feel that they have made a superior effort with regards to diversity. This is a part of their strength. They are able to view their clients from multiple points of view, and do their best work for them.’
‘The team has developed an efficient model of dealing with debt recovery. What sets it apart is its ability to work with individuals and small businesses who may not, at first, understand the legal angle of their dispute – and whom this team works very effectively with.’
‘Sobashni De Silva is the star of the team. She is not afraid to take brave decisions, but remains grounded at all times. A reassuring presence.’
‘Great value, highly efficient.’
‘Anthony Okumah is simply a class act.’
‘Thomas Clark has been very proactive, supportive and responsive to our queries.’
‘Thomas Clark is a star. He is honest and straightforward, with excellent communication skills. Sobashni De Silva is an outstanding professional. She oversees her team with great skill. They appear to have the utmost respect for her and great faith in her abilities.’
Key clients
SES Ltd
Byron Height Limited
Babel Green Limited
Rajan and Dev Developments Limited
New Health Supplies Limited
Salisbury Support 4 Autism Limited
Work highlights
- Enforcing a Libyan court judgment in the UK, involving a $2.2m debt from a breached partnership agreement with a foreign national living in the UK.
- Obtaining a worldwide freezing order for SES against a former business associate, involving an outstanding debt in excess of £5m.
- Represented a Nigerian property investment company with UK properties in halting possession proceedings and claim defence in regards to a £1.6m short-term loan agreement with a UK lender.
Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 3
The ‘brilliant’ practice Duncan Lewis Solicitors is often sough out by charitable organisations, high net-worth individuals, and vulnerable clients on an array of professional negligence claims. Team heads Sobashni De Silva and Anthony Okumah are members of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association and have more than a decade of experience in contentious matters. All of the individuals that have been mentioned split their team between Harrow, Middlesex, and London.Practice head(s):
Sobashni de Silva; Anthony Okumah
Other key lawyers:
Karolina Natkaniec; Kulwant Sokhal; Thomas Clark
Testimonials
‘The practice has been very good at explaining the options and they are very good at communication.’
‘The team is brilliant; it’s comprised of a black female, an Asian female, and a white man. Therefore, I feel that Duncan Lewis has made a superior effort with regards to diversity. This is a part of their strength, because they can view their clients from multiple points of view and do their best work for their clients.’
‘They are a really good claimant professional negligence firm and they intrinsically understand the preparation required to get a case in order. They don’t step back when there are complicated cases or tight deadlines.’
‘Good value and great quality.’
‘Anthony Okumah is simply a class act.’
‘Sobashni de Silva is an outstanding professional. She oversees her team with great skill, and they appear to have the utmost respect for her and great faith in her abilities.’
‘Sobashni de Silva is a trusted advisor to clients. She is a great leader for her team and shows real commitment to developing their skills and talent.’
Work highlights
Private client > Family: Leeds, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire Tier 3
The family team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors is led by Abbid Majeed in Bradford, and Meena Kumari in Manchester. The team has experience across a range of family law matters, including matrimonial and divorce issues, alongside private, public and cross-border children work. It has particular expertise regarding forced marriage protection orders, female genital mutilation cases, and international child abduction cases. The firm's strength in culturally complex cases has led to its appointment to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit. Talat Manir has particular experience regarding children law, including situations involving vulnerable clients.Practice head(s):
Abbid Majeed; Meena Kumari
Other key lawyers:
Talat Manir; Sophia Hussain.
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis provided an exceptional service in assisting me with a legal matter.’
‘The team is extremely professional, highly knowledgeable and puts people at the centre.’
‘Throughout my entire process, I have felt in safe hands and listened to.’
‘Throughout my entire process, the team was available at virtually all times of the day and evening.’
‘I have felt well-informed, and I have not for a moment felt any type of worry.’
‘The entire handling of the case and the process has been extremely satisfactory, and I will at any time reach out to Duncan Lewis and especially this team, should it become relevant again.’
‘This was by far the best counsel I have ever had from all aspects.’
‘My case was handled with precision and professionalism whilst explaining the details and obstacles throughout the matter.’
Work highlights
- Represented a mother, who had been subject to domestic abuse, and obtained a Non-Molestation Order and Prohibited Steps Order.
Private client > Family Tier 4
The agile team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors handles all aspects of domestic family law, including both public care cases and private children law proceedings, as well as international family litigation and child abduction cases. These cases frequently involve multiple parties. It has a particular specialism in representing clients in care proceedings and those who are in emergency situations. Another core area of expertise include acting for victims of domestic violence. Genet Amare and Emily Wright have been promoted to directors.Practice head(s):
Adeeba Naseem; Alia Lewis; Emine Mehmet; Forida Hakim; Kathy Walker; Laila Bhunnoo; Ravi Kaur Mahey; Sophie Fretten; Emily Wright; Genet Amare
Other key lawyers:
Helen Newman
Testimonials
‘Duncan Lewis always seems efficient and organised.’
‘Sophie Fretten fights very hard for vulnerable parents and instructs in a very organised way. I would also like to mention Emine Mehmet; she is appropriately exacting and staunch. I have great respect for her.’
‘The practice has a variety of solicitors based in different locations with good levels of legal knowledge. The practitioners provide regular updates to their clients and provide balanced advice in all situations.’
‘I have confidence in the individuals that I have worked with who understand the children they have been instructed to advocate for which leads to ensuring that the best care plans are made for children and their families.’
‘A general well-balanced family team with increasing involvement in more complex work.’
‘Kathy Walker is amazing, she ensures she gets what needs to be done done or makes sure all valid information is corrected, even if that means she dedicates all her time doing so.’
‘Personal attention, combined with expertise, particularly in the field of Hague Convention child abduction.’
‘Helen Newman is an acknowledged experienced expert in the field of Hague Convention child abduction, and is a formidable person to have on your side, and very thorough. Adeeba Naseem is also experienced in child abduction and is very good at building relationships with the client, approachable and hard working.’
Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 4
With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trusts and probate mandates, Duncan Lewis Solicitors is often involved in estate distribution, proprietary estoppel, and property transfers. Head of the team Caroline Roche splits her time between Harrow, Middlesex & London, and caters to claims under the Inheritance Act, challenges on a will due to lack of capacity, as well as powers of attorney work.Practice head(s):
Caroline Roche
Testimonials
‘They offer a strategic and practical approach to all contentious probate and inheritance claims, delivering a standard of service we can expect from one of London’s top law firms.’
 The contentions trusts and probate team draw on other expertise the firm offers to provide an all-round service.’
‘The solicitors are using technology in a prompt way, I am very happy with the service I received.’
‘This practice is very good. The staff are very professional and dealt with my probate very well. They always answer my e-mails on time.’
‘Caroline Roche is a strategic and knowledgeable litigator who offers firm and practical advice, she achieves fantastic outcomes for her clients. I would highly recommend her.’
‘Caroline Roche is very approachable and supportive. I was able to have a good rapport with her. She is very professional and always answers my e-mail. I strongly recommend her.’
Work highlights
Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 6
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is noted for its strength in professional negligence claims against legal, construction, and financial professionals. The team benefits from broad expertise within the firm, which includes specialists in public law, probate, and tax. Team lead Sobashni De Silva  is highly experienced in acting for clients with connections to the Middle East. Co-lead Anthony Okumah has extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation.Practice head(s):
Sobashni de Silva; Anthony Okumah
Testimonials
‘Good for long-running litigation with lots of moving parts. Can co-ordinate across a number of areas, which is essential for professional negligence claims.’
‘Hard-working and efficient.’
‘Sobashni de Silva is approachable and has a real determination to help her clients.’
‘Very professional outfit.’
‘Anthony Okumah is a commercially and tactically savvy litigator and highly respected in his field.’
‘Duncan Lewis has been a life-saver. They were there for me when I felt truly helpless. They provided me with someone to talk to, which relieved a lot of emotional strain. I will be forever grateful.’
‘They are good lawyers who go the extra mile for their clients.’
‘Sobashni de Silva is excellent. She cares about her clients and gets on top of the key issues early.’
Work highlights
Private client > Family
Duncan Lewis Solicitors > Firm Profile
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an acclaimed law firm headquartered in the City of London and proudly holds the distinction of being the largest provider of publicly funded (legal aid) legal services in the country, with offices spanning England and Wales.
Founded in 1998, the firm has experienced rapid growth and currently employs over 570 dedicated professionals. We offer our legal expertise to both corporate entities and private individuals across 25 areas of law, including those representing some of the most vulnerable and marginalised segments of society. Duncan Lewis also proudly holds a place among the Top 200 legal firms in the country, as recognised by The Times newspaper.
Our team is firmly committed to delivering the highest quality legal counsel and client care to ensure access to justice for all. We frequently take on high-profile cases, many of which establish legal precedents, contributing to fairer judgments in the future.
Duncan Lewis places great importance on staff training and development, and we are proud to hold the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation. We are also signatories to the Pro Bono Charter. Our motto, ‘giving people a voice,’ extends beyond our clients to permeate our entire firm through our dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
We firmly believe in providing equal opportunities, regardless of an individual’s background or protected characteristics. We embrace the diversity of our staff, striving to ensure that our personnel reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve.
The diversity of our talent is truly exceptional: 70% of our workforce is female, 50% identify as Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic, 62% are under the age of 35, and 23% are over 40. Notably, in contrast to the broader legal industry, the majority of our senior leaders are women. Specifically, 65% of our directors are female, and 45% identify as Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic.
The dedication and excellence of our team have earned us widespread recognition through prestigious awards, including the Modern Law Claims Award for Diversity and Inclusion 2023, the Modern Law Firm of the Year 2023 award, and the Excellence in Legal Services award at this year’s Resolution awards.”
Our fields include:
Immigration, Public Law, Civil Liberties, and Human Rights:
Duncan Lewis’ public law department stands as one of the UK’s foremost in this field. Its willingness to take on some of the country’s most prominent and intricate cases has earned the department a formidable reputation for challenging government policies perceived as wrongful. The team handles both publicly and privately funded matters, providing representation in immigration and asylum, regulatory fitness to practice, environment and planning cases.
The department boasts a niche expertise in immigration claimant judicial review cases and costs litigation, as well as unlawful immigration detention cases involving high-net claims for damages. Their scope also covers immigration removal cases, prison law claims, and the provision of social welfare services.
Additionally, the department excels in representing vulnerable clients, including victims of torture and trafficking, in immigration detention-related matters. Specialisations include assistance with asylum applications, in-country asylum applications and appeals, and comprehensive experience in all aspects of judicial review claimant work.
This encompasses securing emergency orders and other interim relief to prevent human rights violations, pursuing judicial reviews with subsequent damages claims in county and high courts, and successfully advancing judicial review matters to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Court of Protection:
Duncan Lewis’ dedicated team provides comprehensive support for deputyship applications, powers of attorney, and issues related to the welfare and finances of individuals lacking capacity. We also handle domestic and international disputes concerning powers of attorney and deputyship applications.
Business and private immigration:
As one of the UK’s leading immigration firms, Duncan Lewis offers expertise in various business and private immigration matters. Our services cover right-to-work checks, visa applications and appeals, student and graduate visas, spousal visas, and visa overstays. We provide full support to SME business clients, including guidance on the Points-Based System (PBS), sponsorship licence applications, and immigration strategy and compliance.
Family, matrimonial, and childcare:
One of the largest and most respected family and childcare departments in the country, our team comprises solicitors with Law Society accreditations in Children Law and Family Law. They specialise in all aspects of family, private, and public children law matters. Notably, they have a niche practice representing domestic abuse victims and handling complex divorce and financial matrimonial matters arising from relationship breakdowns, and are respected for their client sensitivity and dedication to supporting charitable causes.
Children/public law matters: Our team represents parents, guardians, family members, and children through guardians in children public law proceedings. We handle cases on behalf of the official solicitor and are frequently appointed to represent vulnerable clients in various complex matters, including those involving mental health issues, severe non-accidental injuries, abuse, substance misuse, neglect, factitious illness, and rare conditions. Our diverse team is often chosen by guardians to represent children in culturally complex care cases and a widely respected for the dedication to client care and sensitivity.
Children/cross-border disputes:
Duncan Lewis is at the forefront of handling high-profile international child abduction cases and engaging in wardship proceedings for the return of children taken out of the jurisdiction. We are among the select few firms on the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) referral list.
Housing:
Our highly regarded housing department serves both landlords and tenants, and boasts niche expertise in the full range of possession, disrepair, and unlawful eviction cases. We have a significant presence in county court possession duty schemes across London, specialising in defending social tenants facing possession and unlawful eviction cases. We offer representation in all proceedings, including reviews, appeals, and judicial reviews related to homelessness, tenant succession, and neighbourhood disputes with local authorities.
Criminal defence:
Our criminal law department has a notable practice defending clients in complex criminal cases, particularly those involving gangs and drug importation. Our team also excels in representing clients with significant mental health issues in insanity defence cases. Additionally, we have established practices in motoring law, prison law, and actions against public authorities, with expertise in appealing convictions and sentences.
Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
Duncan Lewis possesses recognised expertise in advising corporate clients on litigation matters and providing legal counsel to individuals considering litigation. Our litigation and dispute resolution team delivers clear and concise legal guidance for resolving commercial disputes, whether for UK-based or international businesses. We collaborate with clients to set focused goals, develop strategies, and successfully implement solutions through ADR or Court Litigation while minimising costs and risks.
Clinical (medical) negligence:
Our expert clinical negligence team brings substantial experience to a wide range of claims, including accident and emergency failures, GP negligence, misdiagnosis, wrongful death, and cases involving severe brain, spinal, or neurological injuries resulting from medical care failings by the NHS and private hospitals.
Personal injury:
Duncan Lewis’ personal injury practice has a wealth of experience representing clients injured in various accidents, including workplace incidents, road traffic accidents, accidents abroad, and children’s accidents. Regularly achieving positive results and winning substantial client compensation, we also focus on claims for fatal injuries. Our specialist areas encompass claims against local authorities for public space slips and trips, occupiers’ liability, and asbestos-related illnesses.
More areas of law:
Actions against Public Authorities, Commercial & Company, Child Care, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Civil Litigation, Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection, Crime, Cross-Border Disputes, Debt Recovery, Education Law, Employment, Family, High Net-Worth Divorce, Housing, Immigration, Personal Injury and Public Law and Wills & Probate, and Professional Negligence.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Chief Executive Officer | Shany Gupta | ||
Managing Director | Nina Joshi | ||
Practice Director | Jason Bruce | [email protected] | |
Child Care | Abbid Majeed | [email protected] | 02031190846 |
Child Care | Adeeba Naseem | [email protected] | 02031190220 |
Public Law | Ahmed Aydeed | [email protected] | 02072752668 |
Child Care | Alia Lewis | [email protected] | 02031141193 |
Housing | Alison Winfield | [email protected] | 02072752599 |
Civil and Commercial Litigation | Anthony Okumah | [email protected] | 02031141227 |
Court of Protection | Angela Sandal | [email protected] | 07942081764 |
Public Law | Bahar Ata | [email protected] | 02070147398 |
Housing | Bernadette Chikwe | [email protected] | 02072752885 |
Wills, Probate and Tax | Caroline Roche | [email protected] | 02031141104 |
Immigration | Claire Ryan | [email protected] | 07920077067 |
Immigration | Darren Middleton | [email protected] | 02072752820 |
Employment | David Head | [email protected] | 02079238581 |
Housing | Dianne Cowie | [email protected] | 02070147339 |
Child Care | Emine Mehmet | [email protected] | 02072752799 |
Child Care | Emily Wright | [email protected] | 07920077041 |
Family | Forida Hakim | [email protected] | 02079238440 |
Immigration | Gabor Nagy | [email protected] | 02072752780 |
Immigration | Gemma Lynch | [email protected] | 07920077056 |
Child Care | Genet Amare | [email protected] | 07826948153 |
Immigration | Gergena Pentcheva | [email protected] | 02079238447 |
Court of Protecton | Gillian De Freitas | [email protected] | 07920077018 |
Action Against Public Authorities | Graeme Rothwell | [email protected] | 02072752886 |
Criminal Defence | Hardeep Dhaliwal | [email protected] | 02072752029 |
Public Law | James Packer | [email protected] | 02072752772 |
Child Care | Jasbir Raindi | [email protected] | 07342081756 |
Immigration | Jenna McKinney | [email protected] | 02072752753 |
Child Care | Kathy Walker | [email protected] | 02072752813 |
Child Care | Krina Parmar | [email protected] | 02072752553 |
Child Care | Laila Bhunnoo | [email protected] | 02070147371 |
Housing | Lorick Winarskie | [email protected] | 02070147304 |
Housing | Manjinder Kaur Atwal | [email protected] | 02031141269 |
Family | Meena Kumari | [email protected] | 02031190804 |
Immigration | Nazia Khan | [email protected] | 07825171383 |
Criminal Defence | Nicholas De Freitas | [email protected] | 02031141150 |
Child Care | Olamide Olayemi | [email protected] | 02072752673 |
Immigration | Pardeep Somel | [email protected] | 02072752667 |
Child Care | Ravi Kaur Mahey | [email protected] | 02031141102 |
Clinical Negligence | Rebecca Thomas | [email protected] | 02031141309 |
Clinical Negligence | Renu Daly | [email protected] | 07811064931 |
Immigration | Rohena Wallace | [email protected] | 02031141153 |
Child Care | Rupinder Jagdev | [email protected] | 07824355191 |
Immgration | Satvir Sahota | [email protected] | 02079238480 |
Child Care | Shazia Rana | [email protected] | 07920077045 |
Civil and Commercial Litigation | Sobashni De Silva | [email protected] | 02031141180 |
Child Care | Sophie Fretten | [email protected] | 02070147366 |
Business Immigration | Tamana Aziz | [email protected] | 02031141130 |
Public Law | Toufique Hossain | [email protected] | 02031141128 |
Family | Vanket Appalakondiah | [email protected] | 02079238414 |
Business Immigration | Vicash Ramikissoon | [email protected] | 02031141105 |
Immigration | Vilash Gami | [email protected] | 02031141175 |
Immigration | Vinita Templeton | [email protected] | 02072752575 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Ms Anita Bains | Anita is a solicitor in the child care department at Duncan Lewis… | View Profile |
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Mr Adam Bloodworth | Adam Bloodworth is a solicitor in the child care department at Duncan… | View Profile |
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Mr Richard Gray | Richard is a director of child care and family law at Duncan… | View Profile |
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Ms Rupinder Jagdev | Rupinder Jagdev is a solicitor in the family, child care and housing… | View Profile |
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Ms Harriet Phillips | Harriet is a family and child care solicitor at Duncan Lewis Solicitors,… | View Profile |
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Ms Henna Sajid | Henna is a family and child care solicitor in the Birmingham office… | View Profile |
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Mr Lorick Winarskie | Lorick Winarskie is a director within Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ housing department. Based… | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Mr Ahmed Aydeed | Public law director, Ahmed Aydeed has extensive specialist experience in advising individuals… | View Profile |
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Mr Darren Middleton | Darren Middleton is a Director of Immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors based… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK directors : 62 Number of other UK fee-earners (including consultants) : 570Languages
Punjabi Urdu Dutch Afrikaans Hindi Bangla Polish German Russian Lithuanian French Norwegian Turkish Bulgarian Farsi Twi (Ghanaian) Swedish Gujarati Albanian Italian Croatian Spanish Bosnian Macedonian Greek Welsh Czech Slovak Arabic Hungarian Cantonese Romanian Malay Swahili Tamil Marathi Filipino Portugese Amharic Bengali Creole Dari Pashtu Kurdish Shona Somali Telugu YorubaMemberships
Law Society of England and Wales Resolution CILEx Association of Lawyers for Children ELA (Employment Lawyers Association) Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)Diversity
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is dedicated to recruiting the most talented employees, regardless of age, disability, religion or belief, and other protected characteristics. With 73% of our workforce female and 50% from an ethnic minority background, we are proud of our commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion, and of having a workforce that best serves the diverse clients and communities that we assist.
As a signatory to the Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter since 2016, we place great value in the unique talents of our workforce and appreciate that diversity of talent has a direct and meaningful contribution to the work we carry out. Our ongoing aim is to attract, recruit, and retain high-quality, diverse talent. This is achieved through our tailored Equality and Diversity Policy which encourages and promotes the recruitment of such talent.
Our recent diversity survey shows that of those that participated, 73% were female, 42% were aged under 35 and 50% were Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME). In addition, 62% of the firm’s Directors and Board members are female and 60% are BAME. These results encapsulate our continued efforts to break the glass ceiling of the legal profession and create a more inclusive and diverse workplace and working culture.
Through our initiatives we are able to assist a wide range of individuals from many different backgrounds. By utilising the 60+ languages spoken by our staff we can assist in areas where access to justice is impeded by language barriers, enabling us to continue to fulfil our motto ‘we give people a voice’.
Our clients receive a tailored service where different customs, traditions, faiths, and languages are considered, with our lawyers able to provide a bespoke service to the individual that does not disadvantage them or hamper their chances of success on account of their background or practices.
The Duncan Lewis Pro Bono Committee protects the most vulnerable individuals by ensuring that those in need have access to legal advice and assistance. We collaborate with numerous charities and organisations, and participate and hold many pro bono clinics.
Our commitment to nurturing talent extends to inspiring the next generation of lawyers. Consequently, our Immigration team assists a clinic at King’s College London focused on providing law students with the opportunity to learn more about the legal profession in practice.
Our pledge to recruit talent from different backgrounds has been strengthened by our involvement in the government’s Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment. As a result of our early successes we have now began to retain a number of candidates full-time.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion continues to be recognised across the legal industry. Since 2015, we have been shortlisted for three consecutive years by the Law Society Excellence Awards for Diversity and Inclusion. In 2019 we were awarded the Access to Justice award and the Law Firm Diversity & Inclusion Initiative award at the UK Legal Diversity Awards. Further in 2020, we were named the best firm for diversity by The Lawyer’s UK Top 200 and in 2021, won Outstanding Firm for Diversity and Inclusion at the Chambers Europe Awards.
- Employment > Immigration
- Employment > Immigration
- Employment > Immigration
- Private client > Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
- Real estate > Social housing
- Employment > Immigration
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Family: Birmingham
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Real estate > Social housing: tenant
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
- Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
Firm Rankings
- Employment > Immigration
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- Private client > Court of protection
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights
- Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Private client > Family: Leeds, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire